‖ malleolus
(mæˈliːələs)
Pl. -i. Also in Anglicized form malleol.
[L. malleolus, dim. of malleus hammer.]
1. Anat. Either of the two bony eminences of the leg bone at the ankle. (The internal malleolus belongs to the tibia, the external m. to the fibula.)
| 1693 Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Malleolus or Malleus, is Twofold, external,..Or internal,..these make the Ancle. 1758 J. S. tr. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 355 The external Malleol remained very large. 1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 742 It is also very bad..behind the malleoli, especially the internal malleolus. 1893 A. S. Eccles Sciatica 9 Between the inner malleolus and the heel. |
2. Hort. A layer which when separated from the parent stem presents a hammer-shape.
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Malleolus,..a Sprout growing out of a Branch, which grew out it self but the Year before. 1839 Lindley Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) 84 The layer was called malleolus, which literally signifies a hammer. |
† 3. Antiq. A kind of fire-dart. Obs.
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Malleoli, were certain Devices made of combustible Matter. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 480/2. |